British school in Berlin gives students a head start

Providing international qualifications, tuition in English, a multicultural environment and lots of extra-curricular activities, a British school in Berlin prepares students for an international life.

Published: Thu 6 Oct 2011 18:34 CEST
British school in Berlin gives students a head start

Sending your child to a British school in Germany has many advantages: they receive an English-language education and gain internationally recognized qualifications. At Berlin British School they also get intensive German tuition and can enjoy a multitude of extra-curricular activities, all in a multicultural environment with students from 40 countries.

Berlin British School (BBS) is an independent international English speaking school for children aged 3 to 18. It takes the best parts of the English National Curriculum and adapts it to reflect its location in Berlin and the international nature of its students.

The school prepares students at 16 for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and at 18 for the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma. Both qualifications are recognised and respected in Germany, as well as internationally.

The IB diploma is also a university entrance qualification accepted by institutions of higher education worldwide.

The language of instruction is English, with German tuition provided for native and non native speakers.

BBS provides individual attention in small classes. Its international teaching body is highly motivated and specialised in delivering the curriculum and consists of almost 100% English native speakers. According to British tradition, students at BBS wear school uniform.

The school takes a holistic approach to education with extracurricular activities a key ingredient in building self-esteem, respect and long-lasting friendships.

An IB World School and certified by the Cambridge International Examsboard, BBS is an accredited member of COBIS (Council Of British International Schools) and ECIS (European Council Of International Schools).

Berlin British School is centrally located in Berlin – Charlottenburg and consists of three sites (Early Years, Primary School und Secondary School), that are located close to each other and contribute to a family atmosphere.

Early Years

Early Years is home to the youngest children in the school, aged 3 to 6, and houses Nursery, Reception and Year 1 classes. Its location in the heart of the Grunewald, Berlin’s city forest, makes it easy for children to combine what they learn in the classroom with experience of the world around them. The children are taught in a structured way and are encouraged to learn through investigation, experimentation and play.

From Reception class onwards the students have the opportunity to learn German. Throughout the school year they take part in many extracurricular events, from after school clubs to Laternenfest and summer music and drama productions. The school aims to give students the opportunity to demonstrate their talents and fulfill their potential, both inside and outside the classroom.

Primary School

The Primary School is a five minute walk from Berlin’s historic Olympic stadium, and caters to the needs of children from Years 2 to 6 (aged 6 to 11). The single storey building houses ten light, airy classrooms –all fitted with smartboards – and a number of specialist teaching facilities including a library, music room, gym and a computer suite with state of the art Macs. Next to it is a large, well equipped playground.

The school’s philosophy is to view every educational experience as an opportunity to develop the self-confidence and motivation necessary to achieve full potential. While academic achievement is the top priority, the learning programme goes well beyond regular formal lessons. School trips (including residential), clubs, festivals, concerts, shows, productions, fairs and sports events provide children with many wider learning experiences that value creativity and teamwork.

Secondary School

The Secondary School is situated on the northern edge of the Grunewald, in tranquil surroundings. Transport connections are excellent, with a school-run service that provides buses to residential areas and a connecting service that links with the city’s efficient public transport system. Students in Years 7 to 9 are again taught courses based upon the National Curriculum. Years 10 and 11 follow the IGCSE courses, which are widely respected across the world and lead to public exams at the end of Year 11. After successful completion of IGCSE, students enter the demanding International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma programme in Years 12 and 13. The school’s results are outstanding. The pass rate for IGCSE and IB is almost 100%, which reflects the high academic standards of the School.

The BBS community

About 62 teachers care for 400 students from more than 40 countries. The Student Council ensures that students’ voices and opinions are heard across a range of issues relevant to their education and well-being. The Friends of BBS, a longstanding parent teacher association, provides close communication between the school, teachers and parents. It also assists new families to familiarise themselves with the school and organises social events.

The BBS governing body consists of members of the BBS Verein, parent representatives, the Head and a member of staff, all of whom advise school management on running the school.

Article sponsored by Berlin British School.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also